Our Mission

CGRS-California’s long-term goal is universal quality legal representation for asylum seekers in California communities, particularly vulnerable populations such as women, children, and LGBT individuals who reside in our state and continue to arrive here. Numerous studies confirm that the single most important factor in determining the outcome in an immigration case is whether or not the individual is represented. According to a study by Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse looking at cases of “women with children,” for example, legal representation increased the odds of securing protection in the United States by fourteen-fold. These odds increase even more when advocates are properly trained in asylum law and equipped with the necessary resources—such as country conditions evidence including expert declarations—for establishing a strong evidentiary record in their clients’ cases.